3 hospitalized in series of Bloomington-Normal interstate crashes

Posted on May 3, 2017
Interstate 55 crash
State and local police responded to a series of crashes On Interstate 55/74 in Bloomington-Normal Tuesday afternoon. (Photo courtesy B104)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Three people were hospitalized in a series of chain reaction crashes that tied up traffic on Interstate 55/74 west of Bloomington-Normal for hours Tuesday afternoon and evening.

State and McLean County Sheriff’s Police joined dozens of local emergency responders to three crashes that happened within minutes of each other just north of the Market Street exit shortly after 3 p.m.

The first crash was caused by a southbound semi tractor trailer hitting a guardrail. Another semi crashed into the side of another trailer a short time later as traffic had slowed to a stop because of the earlier crash. Two drivers; Jevon Armour, 40, of Jackson, Tenn. and Marquis Dawson, 41, of St. Louis, were taken to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal and were treated and released.

A passenger in the semi which slammed into another trailer, Richard Tant, 26, of Ooltewah, Tenn., was airlifted to OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria and is in critical condition.

Armour was ticketed for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

One of the semis lost rows of steel it was carrying.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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